carowinds

From everything I've heard and seen, I'd rather just take a second lap on Timbers.

Or three laps!

The one day I was there, the single rider line on Borg was slower than the regular line. They were arranging riders from the regular queue, then going to the single rider line. I think about 50% of the trains went out without drawing from the single rider line.

Yeah, my wait for Nighthawk sucked, and then so did the ride.

Nighthawk looks better than firehawk at ki...
Is it?

They're the exact same ride. So other than setting or operational differences I don't know much that will set them apart.

Kings Island has a Vekoma Flying coaster? Really?

Kidding, of course. I do hate waiting for that ride though. The line is always crazy, even when the park is slow.

It is, however, the only coaster type that really scares me. I can't ride it that much because I find the thrill of that ride to be too much. I like my rides to be fun, not terrifying. lol

RCMAC said:

They're the exact same ride. So other than setting or operational differences I don't know much that will set them apart.

The ending is different. Nighthawk is the prototype, and features 2 corkscrew elements, then a turn into the brake run. Firehawk features 2 inline twist elements that go into a helix and then the brake run on the opposite side of the station.

But otherwise it's pretty much the same thing.

I've been to Carowinds twice; in 2010 and 2012. Both were mid-week visits in July. The lines were great both times; I got multiple rides on Afterburn and Intimidator, which are both top-notch. The wild mouse coaster is pretty fun too. Hurler and Thunder Road were terrible though. It was one of those parks where I was ready to leave around 7:00 in the evening, having felt I'd done all I could do. Oh, the first time I rode Nighthawk I thought it was great; the second time, not so much.

Another difference with those flying coaster is the KI model has a dual loading station, which I think helps a *little*. Either way, the operation of both are light years better than the one at Six Flags America. Geez, that was a nightmare.

LostKause said:

Kings Island has a Vekoma Flying coaster? Really?

Kidding, of course. I do hate waiting for that ride though. The line is always crazy, even when the park is slow.

It is, however, the only coaster type that really scares me. I can't ride it that much because I find the thrill of that ride to be too much. I like my rides to be fun, not terrifying. lol

Firehawk isn't close to being as terrifying as drop tower at ki. Why does Firehawk scare you?

I wouldn't answer for Travis, but my first two rides on Flying coasters scared me ****less. That was Batwing at SF America and X-Flight (Firehawk's former incarnation) at Geauga Lake. When I got off them I was dazed, disoriented and distressed..and believe me, that ain'r the kind of triple-D's I like. I never held on as tight as I did, and never so much wished for a ride to be over. It took me several more years to beat my fear of that coaster type. I did a 6-ride jaunt on S:UF at GAdv to break myself of those feelings. I now like flyers, but often don't ride because of the long lines and slow loading procedures.

I think the transition from lying to flying really freaks people out. You lay down in the station and go up the lift in the "relaxed" position. Then you're "dumped out" at the highest point. A friend (who can ride anything, including Voyage umpteen times in a row) really didn't look well after Firehawk, and she wouldn't go back on.

Tekwardo and Billy, thanks for the correction. Oh my gosh, I'm ashamed that I didn't remember the differences.
So, Tyler, it seems there's plenty to set them apart. You can judge which is better after your trip.

Forgive the double post, but I don't like these rides either. My first experience was at Geauga and I was really looking forward to the unique experience. When we got to the top and the car rolled over I panicked really bad! I think what freaked me out was the feeling that my big boy weight was pressing up against the restraints with nothing below me but the hard ground. Hated it. And after the ride my arms ached really bad, I must've subconsciously pushed so hard!
I've been on it a couple times at KI and for some reason liked it a little better, but not much. Maybe it's the trees.

I think what scares me most about Vekoma Flyers is that when I ride in the flying position, I am relying on the shoulder harness to hold all of my body weight. I know it's completely safe, but this ride gives me the illusion of being in danger more than any other ride. Facing the ground that high up, pressing against the restrains just scares the bejesus out of me. I scream like a little girl on these rides, not like the "woo hoo" of riding most coasters, but a funny laughing "I am really scared but I shouldn't be" kind of scream, kind of like when I am walking through a really good haunted house.

I am scared enough of the flying coasters to ignore the one at Kings Island when I am there. About a year ago, we were discussing the KI ride in another thread, and I was really confused, because for a few hours into the conversation, I swore up and down that KI didn't have a flyer. That's what I was kidding about in my previous post, for those of you just tuning in.

CoasterBuzz is like a serialized TV series, like LOST or Walking Dead. lol

Both you guys nailed it on the restraints. On the B&Ms like Manta, I feel totally safe, secure in the flying mode...can relax and enjoy the ride. On the Vekomas, not so much. My first ride on X-flight, the year it opened, it felt like I was going to bust right through that vest. My arms also hurt from trying to brace against the surely imminent restraint failure and the ride's attempt at hurling me to an untimely death.

It's been many years, but I think I may have kissed the ground when I got off.

LostKause said:

I think what scares me most about Vekoma Flyers is that when I ride in the flying position, I am relying on the shoulder harness to hold all of my body weight. I know it's completely safe, but this ride gives me the illusion of being in danger more than any other ride. Facing the ground that high up, pressing against the restrains just scares the bejesus out of me.

I am scared enough of the flying coasters to ignore the one at Kings Island when I am there. About a year ago, we were discussing the KI ride in another thread, and I was really confused, because for a few hours into the conversation, I swore up and down that KI didn't have a flyer.

CoasterBuzz is like a serialized TV series, like LOST or Walking Dead. lol

Travis, I remember that thread. You were absolutely convinced there was no flyer at KI. I laughed at your mention of it in here. :)

And I am in complete agreement with you about the feeling of it. A few years ago, I had gained weight and weighed the most I ever did. They had to lock me in a B&M flyer with a special key, and not only was I humiliated, but I was scared to death that the restraint was going to give and fling me out to my doom. While I loved Manta at SeaWorld and thought that for a flying coaster it was absolutely gorgeous and a lot of fun, I probably won't ever ride it again, and I most likely will not bother with any other flyers either, especially Vekomas. Except maybe Tatsu if I ever get out that way.

Let's just hope CoasterBuzz doesn't have a craptacular ending like Lost.

I think the difference between the B&M restraints and the Vekoma restraints in terms of perceived strength is the B&M restraints have solid metal bars in addition to the vest. Vekoma restraints just have the vest (which I'm sure has pretty solid cable in there, but appears to be just made of rubber).

Thought I remembered there being metal in there somewhere too.